Category: Attitude
-
Steering Through The Storm
Every year I tell myself that the construction business can’t get any harder. But every year it does…. It’s a crazy business. Added code requirements, crazy hoops to jump through to get approvals, complicated designs, unrealistic expectations, volatile material and labor costs and availability are just a few of the issues. Getting a…
-
6 Ways to Build a Culture of Hard Work
I was picking up mulch that was on sale at Home Depot last weekend and a gray haired man approached my truck for my order. I told him forty bags and I asked him, “So where are the youngsters?” He was obviously older and generally they have a cadre of young men who load mulch…
-
Peace on Earth, Good Will Towards Men- Really?
Is the Christmas message really relevant? How can we truly believe the angels who made this declaration upon the birth of Jesus with all of the turmoil that we saw this past year? Continued terrorism, violence and beheadings. Demonstrations and violence over police actions and racial strife. Sluggish economic conditions and unemployment. The struggle for…
-
Maybe A Smoke Screen?
John is a real charmer. He is good at getting what he wants. First it was a cookie from Mom. Then an extension on an assignment at school. Then a date with the homecoming queen. A promotion at work. You get the picture. He was attractive and engaging. He found it easy to win people…
-
The Shifting Keys
Funny how things change. You can be so sure of something, and over time, your views can be changed to something vastly different. It’s crazy. Like shifting sand. When I was young and just entering college, I was convinced that the secret to success was knowledge. If I could just absorb a vast…
-
Your Fooling Yourself!
I am a noticer. I notice the little things as I do life. Small things of beauty as I walk. Reactions from social interactions. Ugly things that appear out of nowhere. Attitudes and enthusiasm. This is really a blessing and a curse. I often think that it would be better to approach…
-
Smile Power
My daughter was born with a smile on her face. She was, and still is, always smiling. When she was a baby we would get comments about what a happy little girl she was. Her smile was contagious and helped her make friends quickly. When our kids were young we would frequently go camping and,…
-
Sour Cream
Bill is driving home from work when he gets a text from his wife Karen. The text says- “Pick me up some sour cream on your way home- making Mom’s frosting for our dinner party tonight”. Bill stops at the grocery store and hits the dairy aisle. He reaches the sour cream and reviews things. …
-
Don’t Lose The War!
You probably have heard the expression- “don’t win the battle and lose the war”. I think this result happens more than we want to admit. And when we lose the war, it can really hurt and cause pain. You forget to look beyond the immediate to see the long term consequences. There has been a…
-
The Boring Banquet
Have you ever had to suffer through a boring banquet? The kind of event where you listen to someone blow their horn and share statistics and personal accomplishments- Sales increased 150%! My new product line was a huge success! My products have entered the European market! Revenue increased 83%! Numbers, dollars, percentages. All great things when…
Leading by Serving 